A ‘hidden history’

“Who hates the miners? Thatcher. Who else? The police, the public and the tabloid press,” says the character of legendary campaigner, Mark Ashton, to fellow activist Mike Jackson, during a Gay Pride rally in London in 1984.

“Does it sound familiar? The only problem we’ve got that they haven’t is Mary Whitehouse and that’s only a matter of time.”

So begins the BAFTA award winning film, Pride, which tells the true story of how a group of young gay rights activists formed Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM), to fund raise and stand with Welsh miners on the picket lines during the 1984-85 strike.

To celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender (LGBT) history month, Unite Community are screening a new documentary about the making of the film and the events that inspired it. “I’ve no idea how the world perceives me. The best measure of it is mates and family.”

They all just laughed and said ‘my god they’ve got you down to a T’,” said Mike Jackson, speaking of his portrayal in the film by actor Joseph Gilgun.

“We’d got to know Pride’s writer, Stephen Beresford, so well by the time the film was released that we knew he was going to do us proud and, in fact, the end result exceeded expectations. During the research I’d told Steve that a lot of people in LGSM were snazzy dressers, except for me.

“I was always a terrible dresser and the first time I saw it I thought ‘well he’s remembered that detail because the Mike character has always got awful clothes on’.”

Mike, along with Martin Goodsell, were both original LGSM members and are current members of Unite Community. Tragically, out of the 17 LGSM members who first traveled to Dulais Valley, in South Wales, over 30 years ago to support the miners there, eight died from AIDs related illnesses – including leading activist Mark Ashton, played in the film by Ben Schnetzer, who died in 1987.

Contributions

Although it is no consolation, their contributions in fighting for equality for everyone who needed it are still being felt.

The 1980s were a difficult time for miners and the LGBT community alike. While Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher dealt the British mining industry a blow it would never recover from – decimating entire communities in the process – gay, bi and transgender people were suffering and stigmatised because of widespread homophobia and the little understood emergence of HIV.

The collusion of the authorities and the press to target both groups, a process eased by commonly held stereotypes amongst the public, made them natural and naturally entertaining allies.

Over the proceeding years many things have improved for the LGBT community, although unfortunately the same cannot be said for the miners and many others, particularly under the current Tory government.

For Martin Goodsell, the release of Pride and the subsequent interest in the history behind the film, is a chance to remind people that the myriad struggles for equality, whether they are based on ethnicity, gender, class or sexuality, are all linked.

“When you meet someone who’s seen the film for the first time and they ask ‘was it true?’ – you realise people have absolutely no idea.

“It’s a hidden history – particularly the more radical stuff. We live in very different times for LGBT people and the radical left were pivotal in helping to make those changes. There was a whole movement of activists in groups like the Gay Liberation Front, Gay Left, Outrage and Act Up. We need to make sure people know about that fight for equality,” he said.

“On the surface it’s a lot easier and more accepting for LGBT people today. But things can change very very quickly. We can see it now with the Tories attacking civil rights and liberties. They’re even using the gay community as a cover for their activities.

“Oh we’re going to war in Syria because Isis are throwing gays off the top of buildings”, while at the same time they’re scapegoating Muslims and migrants. There’s a group inspired by our story called “LGSM Migrants” that have formed to help combat those issues – they’re reigniting that radical gay and lesbian spirit.

“People are fighting back. I see it all the time through the work I do with Unite Community.”

Martin, Mike and other members from LGSM will attending the screening of the LGSM/Pride documentary at Unite headquarters in London, which takes place this Friday at 6.30pm.